Big Sky Conference Notebook
Player of the Week: Jake Schroeder, Portland State
Conference to review Sacramento State/Montana game
The Big Sky Conference will review the Wednesday, Feb. 15 men’s basketball game between Sacramento State and Montana, Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton said in a statement released on Thursday.
Scoring issues have been brought to the attention of the Big Sky Conference. The contest was won by Montana, 84-79, at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula, Mont. Scorers might have made a mistake by not crediting Sacramento State with a point earlier in the second half.
“At this point, we have not been able to review the tape,” Fullerton said in a statement. “When we receive the game tape, we will determine if a scoring error occurred, and if it was correctable at the time it was noticed.”
The rulebook states that the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee does not recognize or allow protests.
“It is unfortunate if a mistake occurred,” Fullerton said. “Once the officials leave the court at the end of the game, the game is over. There is no recourse for protest. We are very interested in finding out what happened to avoid future problems. We will investigate it and find out what happened.”
University of Montana issues apology
University of Montana Athletics Director Jim O’Day has sent a letter of apology to Sacramento State Athletics Director Terry Wanless and head men’s basketball coach Jerome Jenkins for a scoring error which occurred in the Wednesday, Feb. 15 game between the Hornets and the Grizzlies, according to a statement released by the Big Sky Conference.
“After reviewing Wednesday night’s game film with members of my staff, I would like to apologize on behalf of UM Athletics for a critical scoring error that occurred late in the contest,” O’Day wrote. “While an apology does not rectify the existing problem, I can only tell you we are reviewing with our scorers the duties and responsibilities found in Rule 2 Section 12 of the NCAA rules and Interpretations Manual.
“I can only imagine how upset the Sacramento State men’s basketball team must be. On behalf of the University of Montana, I express our deepest and most sincere apology.”
Sacramento State’s DaShawn Freeman was credited with making just one free throw with roughly five minutes remaining in the second half. Although credited with two free throws on the scoreboard, the official scorekeeper credited Freeman with just one conversion. The point was added to the scoreboard with 3:16 to play, making the score on the scoreboard correct.
With 1:57 remaining, the official scorekeeper reviewed his book and determined Sacramento State had one less point than displayed on the scoreboard. At that time, the score was adjusted to reflect the score as it appeared in the official scorebook.
Montana officially won the game 84-79.
“We appreciate the University of Montana stepping forward and admitting the mistake,” Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton said in a statement. “The officials rely on the personnel at the scorers table to keep an accurate account of the score. The Big Sky Conference will still review the game tape and evaluate the procedure of everyone involved.”
EWU’s Stuckey recognized
Eastern Washington freshman Rodney Stuckey has been selected to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Division I All-District Team.
Stuckey, a 6-foot-4 guard from Kent, Wash., was named to the District 13 First Team, along with Nevada’s Nick Fazekas, San Diego State’s Marcus Slaughter and Brandon Heath, and Denver’s Yemi Nicholson.
The All-District Teams consist of 150 players from 15 districts. The players are eligible for the NABC All-America Teams.
Stuckey leads the Big Sky Conference and all Division I freshmen and sophomores with an average of 23.9 points per game. Stuckey has scored in double figures in all 24 games he has played. Stuckey ranks second in the Big Sky in steals (2.42 per game), fourth in assists (4.17 per game) and is 9th in free-throw percentage (77.4) and 12th in field-goal percentage (48.5).
Stuckey, who is in prime contention to be not only the conference’s newcomer of the year, but also player of the year, set a Big Sky Conference freshman record by scoring 45 points against Northern Arizona on Jan. 5. The 45 points ranks it as the second-highest scoring game in Division I this season.
In conference play, Stuckey is averaging 27.2 points per game. This season, Stuckey has scored at least 20 points 16 times and at least 30 five times.
Big Sky Conference tournament scenarios
Who’s in: Northern Arizona, Montana, Eastern Washington, Montana State, Sacramento State.
Northern Arizona has clinched at least a share of the regular season title. They can clinch the regular season title outright with a win over Sacramento State on Thursday, or a Montana loss. Regular season champion receives hosting rights for at least semifinal round.
Low-down on remaining spot: Weber State sits with a 4-9 record in the conference, while Idaho State and Portland State each have a 3-9 record.
For Weber State, the Wildcats will clinch the final spot with a victory over ISU on Saturday in Pocatello and a Portland State loss to either Montana State or Montana.
For Idaho State, the Bengals must win their final two conference games to have a chance at making the tournament. ISU would get the sixth spot if the Bengals, Vikings and Hornets each finish 5-9, but ISU will not if they finish 4-10. If ISU and Portland State finishes 5-9, ISU would get the sixth spot if EWU finishes ahead of Montana State.
For Portland State, the Vikings will clinch a spot with victories over Montana State on Thursday and Montana on Saturday. In addition, must have ISU lose to either Weber State or Eastern Washington. Or, the Vikings will win the tiebreaker if PSU, ISU and WSU each finish 4-10. If ISU and PSU finish 5-9, PSU would get sixth spot if MSU finishes ahead of EWU, just as long as Sacramento State does not finish 5-9.
Eastern Washington Eagles (12-13 overall, 7-4 conference)
Feb. 15: Eastern Washington 76, Weber State 73
Feb. 18: Cal State Fullerton 89, Eastern Washington 63 (ESPN Bracket Buster)
Rodney Stuckey scored 25 points with six assists, five rebounds and three steals in the Eagles’ victory over Weber State. Paul Butorac scored 15 points off the bench. It was the Eagles’ third ever victory over Weber State in Ogden. Stuckey then scored 19 points with nine rebounds and six assists in a loss to Cal State Fullerton in ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday.
Up next: The Eagles host Montana on Thursday and Montana State on Saturday. Then, finish up at Idaho State on Feb. 27.
Idaho State Bengals (11-13, 3-9)
Feb. 16: Portland State 80, Idaho State 73
ISU was outscored 13-3 over the final four minutes to lose to the Vikings. Slime Millien scored 19 points with five rebounds and three blocks for ISU. David Schroeder scored 16 with eight rebounds.
Up next: ISU heads to Utah Valley State on Feb. 21 before playing host to Weber State on Saturday and Eastern Washington on Monday. A loss by ISU to Weber State or Eastern Washington eliminates the Bengals from the Big Sky Conference tournament picture.
Montana Grizzlies (19-5, 8-3)
Feb. 15: Montana 84, Sacramento State 79
Feb. 18: Montana 88, Oral Roberts 74 (ESPN Bracket Buster)
The Grizzlies improved to 6-0 on the home floor in conference games after beating Sacramento State. Kevin Criswell scored 28 points with eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Then, the Grizzlies improved to 12-1 at home overall after beating Oral Roberts of the Mid-Continent Conference in the ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday. Matt Dlouhy scored 21 points and Andrew Strait, who scored 25 points against SSU, scored 19.
Up next: Montana travels to Eastern Washington on Thursday and to Portland State on Saturday. The Grizzlies close out the regular season with a home game against Northern Arizona in what could decide the Big Sky Conference regular season championship.
Montana State Bobcats (14-12, 6-5)
Feb. 16: Northern Arizona 82, Montana State 73
Feb. 18: Montana State 79, Idaho 69 (ESPN Bracket Buster)
The Bobcats dropped its third consecutive game after losing at home to Northern Arizona. Al Beye scored 23 points on an 11-of-13 shooting performance from the field. Marvin Moss added 17 points with six rebounds. MSU got only eight points from its bench in the content. Then, on ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday, the Bobcats knocked off Idaho. Beye scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Marvin Moss scored 20 as well for MSU.
Up next: The Bobcats head to Portland State on Thursday and Eastern Washington on Saturday. MSU will close the regular season with a home game on Monday against Sacramento State.
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (19-8, 11-1)
Feb. 16: Northern Arizona 82, Montana State 73
Feb. 18: Western Kentucky 79, Northern Arizona 58
The Lumberjacks clinched at least a share of the regular season conference championship after beating Montana State on the road. Tyrone Bozy led the way with 16 points. Kelly Golob and Ruben Boykin, Jr., each scored 15 points. In a game televised nationally on ESPNU as part of ESPN Bracket Buster Saturday, NAU fell convincingly to Western Kentucky. NAU was out-rebounded 39-16. Golob scored 16 points.
Up next: NAU heads to Sacramento State on Saturday and Montana on Monday. NAU will clinch the regular season championship with a victory or a Montana loss.
Portland State Vikings (10-15, 3-9)
Feb. 16: Portland State 80, Idaho State 73
Feb. 18: Portland State 77, Weber State 66
The Vikings snapped a six-game losing slide when they needed it most as they beat ISU. PSU rallied from a 42-33 halftime deficit, courtesy of shooting 50 percent in the second half. Jake Schroeder scored 18 points to help lead the comeback. Scott Morrison had 13 and 11 rebounds for the Vikings. PSU stayed alive in the postseason race after beating Weber State. Schroeder scored a game-high 20 points.
Up next: PSU hosts Montana State on Thursday and Montana on Saturday.
Sacramento State Hornets (14-12, 5-7)
Feb. 15: Montana 84, Sacramento State 79
The Hornets lost for the seventh time in eight games after losing to Montana. Alex Bausley scored 20 points with 10 rebounds and Jason Harris scored 16 points and grabbed 12 boards. But the Hornets were victim to a costly scoring error. The Hornets were deducted a point off the scoreboard after the official scorekeeper’s score did not match what the scoreboard said. With 10 seconds left in the game, Clark Woods hit a 3-pointer that should have tied the game at 80. Instead, it was 80-79, forcing the Hornets to foul and Montana used free throws.
Up next: The Hornets host Northern Arizona on Saturday before the regular season finale at Montana State on Monday.
Weber State Wildcats (10-16, 4-9)
Feb. 15: Eastern Washington 76, Weber State 73
Feb. 18: Portland State 77, Weber State 66
Coric Riggs scored 19 points with 11 rebounds in a loss to the Eagles. David Patten scored 16 points off the bench and Terrell Stovall added 15. WSU then made it three losses in a row after losing to Portland State. Stovall scored 17 points to lead the Wildcats.
Up next: Weber State heads to Idaho State in a crucial game. A win for the Wildcats coupled with a Portland State loss clinches their spot in the Big Sky Conference tournament.
